Troy Uses Fifth Inning Rally to Secure 9-8 Victory Over JMU

Friday, April 14

Harrisonburg, Va.

10 a.m.

Troy University

29-11-1, 10-2-1

James Madison

21-13, 6-7

TROY

James Madison

Troy Uses Fifth Inning Rally to Secure 9-8 Victory Over JMU

4/14/2023 2:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Five runs split between the fifth and sixth inning propelled Troy over James Madison to open the three-game series on Friday afternoon, 9-8, at the Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Troy was down 6-4 heading into the fifth inning before starting the rally back to the lead. A full-count walk by Anslee Finch, a single to left center by Jade Sinness and a 3-1 walk by Kelly Horne – extended her career-high streak of bases reached to 21 – had bases loaded with no outs. With the count 2-2, Audra Thompson didn't rush, allowing two balls to come to her for the RBI walk, 6-5. Then, with bases still loaded, a wild pitch by Alissa Humphrey brought Sinness home as she slid under the tag to tie the game, 6-6.

Bases got reloaded after Kennedi Gaton struck out and Emma Grace Walker earned a four-pitch walk. That's when D'Aun Riggs, up 2-0 in the count, punched a single to right field for the leading run, 7-6.

Natalie Turner and Sinness provided the Trojans a necessary cushion in the sixth. Turner, who pinch ran in the previous inning, laid a bunt between herself and the pitcher to provide enough time to reach first. Up 3-0 in the count, Sinness had one sent straight over the plate. The center fielder loved it, rocketing it for her second homer of 2023 for a 9-6 lead.

JMU didn't quit, responding in the bottom of the inning on a four-pitch walk for Hannah Shifflett to set up a two-run homer by Bella Henzler, 9-8. Leanna Johnson (22-4) – gave up the most earned runs in her career (8) – settled the Dukes by striking out the next two batters and forcing Avery Pinder to foul out. The seventh saw Johnson give up a single before grabbing a flyout and pop up.

With JMU's top hitter coming up to bat in KK Mathis, head coach Eric Newell decided to sub in freshman Olivia Cato with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Down 2-1 in the count, Cato responded with a looking strike before setting Mathis up for a swinging strikeout to secure her second save.

Back-And-Forth
Troy got its early shot in despite D'Aun Riggs opening on a foul out to third when Taylor McKinney won her at-bat with a full-count walk. Libby Baker managed to single down the left field line on a full count to set runners up at first and third. After a one-game hiatus, Finch doubled in her first at-bat to left field for the early 1-0 lead. The Trojans continued to show discipline at the plate as Sinness and Horne earned back-to-back walks for the 2-0 advantage.

The bottom of the first had JMU set up with two outs and a runner on second after Kylee Gleason singled to right field and stole to second. The following two batters had home runs in their sights as Mathis fired a two-run shot before Hannah Shifflett grabbed a solo for the game's first lead change, 3-2.

A silent second inning was met with a third that saw Sinness walk, Horne single down the left field line and Thompson lay a sac bunt to advance runners into scoring position. On her first pitch, Gaton hit one just outside the infield as JMU's center fielder Avery came up to make the routine catch. As the ball came down, Avery made the error which made all runners safe and allowed Horne and Sinness to score 4-3.

Like the first, JMU responded with a homer after Gleason walked and Jasmine Hall and Hallie Hall struck out swinging. Then, a single by Mathis to center field allowed Shifflett to rocket her second homer of the day, 6-4, and bring in three runs.

Game two of the three-game series between Troy-JMU begins tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park.